Fair Warnings to a Careless World, or, The Serious Practice of Religion Recommended by the Admonitions of Dying Men, and the Sentiments of All People in Their Most serious Hours: and Other Testimonies of an Extraordinary Nature. By Josiah Woodward, D.D. To which is added, Serious Advice to a Sick Person by Archbishop Tillotson. As also, a Prospect of Death: A Pindarique Essay. With Suitable Cuts. Recommended as proper to be given at Funerals.

Woodward, Josiah.

Published by London: Printed by J.D. for Brabazon Aylmer Senr & Junr, 1707.

About this Item

Josiah Woodward (1660-1712) was a Church of England clergyman, moral reformer, and writer of penny tracts, which were often published anonymously. Fair Warnings is a conduct book that serves to inspire the reader to live a moral, Christian life via frightful pictures of people on their deathbeds, ÒlivingÓ skeletons, powerful men contemplating their deaths, Roman Emperor Adrian leading his own funeral march while a portrait of a robed skeleton is held high, and other such morbid illustrations and content (Oxford DNB) Octavo. xvi, 236 pp. Illustrated with six full-page cuts reminiscent of the ÒDanse MacabreÓ depicting skeletons, sepulchers piled high with skulls, and other morbid imagery Rebound in modern vellum, title hand-lettered in ink on spine, new endpapers. Scattered light foxing throughout with greater degrees of foxing to signatures K-M. Repair to p. 15, touching text, but not affecting legibility. Union Theological SeminaryÕs blindstamp on title-page, p. 113, and p. 235, and rubber ink stamp to gutter margin of p. iii. A very good copy. First edition. This is followed by Archbishop TillotsonÕs ÒSerious Advice to a Sick Person,Ó a reprinted letter written by the archbishop to Nicholas Hunt of Canterbury, who was dying from cancer; the purpose of the letter was to provide spiritual reassurance to Hunt. The work closes with ÒA Prospect of Death: A Pindarique Essay,Ó an ode that encourages one to live a pious life, a table of notable persons mentioned in the work, and a list of books that might be given to attendants at a funeral instead of inexpensive trinkets. Seller Inventory # 16504

Bibliographic Details

Title: Fair Warnings to a Careless World, or, The ...

Publisher: London: Printed by J.D. for Brabazon Aylmer Senr & Junr, 1707.